Reference no: EM133613615

Question

Attorney Alex mailed a professional announcement to several local doctors, listing his name, address and area of practice as personal injury. Doctor Diane received Alex's announcement and recommended that her patient, Paul, call Alex. Paul had become very ill and he thought the cause was breathing fumes from an oil field near his home. Alex agreed to represent Paul in a lawsuit against the oil company. At Alex's request, Diane agreed to testify as an expert witness on Paul's behalf at the trial. Alex paid Diane expert witness fees of $250 per hour for her time attending depositions, preparing for trial, and testifying. Alex learned in discovery that several scientific studies had failed to find any medical risks from the oil company's fumes. Diane was nonetheless willing to testify, on the basis of her clinical experience, that the fumes had harmed Paul. Alex did not know whether Diane's testimony was true or false. He offered Diane's testimony at trial, and Paul won a judgment. What, if any, ethical violations has Alex committed? Discuss. Please answer according to California authorities and the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct.